August 02, (THEWILL) – Angela Carini of Italy has apologised to Imane Khelif of Algeria after their Olympic women’s boxing match at the Paris 2024 Games.
Carini, knocked out in 46 seconds, felt sorry for Khelif, who faced questions about her gender and medical status. Carini explained that not shaking hands was due to her disappointment and not a statement against Khelif.
Carini told Gazzetta dello Sport that the controversy around Khelif was upsetting and overshadowed the competition. She stressed that Khelif did nothing wrong by winning. “All this controversy certainly made me sad, and I also felt sorry for my opponent,” Carini said. “I apologise to her and everyone.”
The debates have involved the International Boxing Association (IBA), which reported that tests found Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan had advantages over other female competitors, though it did not specify the tests used. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that Khelif and Lin were properly cleared to compete with passports and medical documentation.
Khelif continues her Olympic journey, preparing for her next match against Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary. Lin Yu-ting advanced in the 57kg division, winning her opening fight against Sitora Turdibekova of Uzbekistan with tactical jabs, winning decisively.
Competitors like Hamori have used the debate to gain support on social media. By sharing posts that positioned her as a defender of women’s sports, Hamori has ensured that Olympic women’s boxing remains a topic of discussion ahead of her bout against Khelif.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
